The latest Sears Hometown outpost -- the 11th this year -- landed in Sidney, Montana last Friday, Sept. 12.

"The addition of the new Sears Hometown Store inside our existing business will provide great value to the community," said Becky Benson, co-owner of the new Sears Hometown Store in Sidney. "Working with builders and homeowners, we recognized the need for a broader product and service assortment to assist customers with their projects. Now, they'll have access to the nation's top appliance brands at the lowest possible price."

After explosions and fire rocked a Plum Creek MDF facility in Columbia Falls, Montana on June 10, the company announced that production has resumed again.

Employees were all safely evacuated, with no reported injuries. An investigation determined that a mechanical failure caused the fire. There is also an estimated $8 million to $10 million worth of damage at the plant.

A day after explosions set its Columbia Falls, Montana plant on fire, Plum Creek Timber Company is starting to pick up the pieces.

Nearby residents reported two or three loud blasts around 3 p.m. Tuesday, though the cause of the explosions is as of yet undetermined.

It took fire and emergency officials all afternoon to quell the fire, but fortunately, all workers were safely led outside without sustaining any major injuries. A few were treated on-site for smoke inhalation.

Now in its third year, HCN's annual list of high performers recognizes hardware stores -- one from each state -- that are outstanding in their field. The complete list and analysis can be found in the September issue of HCN. Meanwhile, HCN Daily will work its way across the country with mini profiles, continuing this week with Montana, Wyoming and Colorado.

Voters in 38 states will consider 174 statewide ballot measures on Nov. 6, 2012, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). These proposals are wide-ranging, with a number of them having potential workplace implications.

Last fall, Montana builder Anders Lewendal began work on “The All-American Home,” gaining national recognition in the media and building industry. An economist-turned-builder, Lewendal estimated that if every builder used just 5% more American-made products, they would create more than 200,000 jobs -- a number that ABC News reported as being confirmed by The Boston Consulting Group.

Aldrich Lumber, a fixture in Billings, Mont., since 1937, is relocating to the edge of town and downsizing its business into a specialty dealer of pole barns and riding arenas, according to an article in the Billings Gazette.

The Aldrich family has been in the lumber business since 1917, when the grandfather of the current owner, Greg Aldrich, bought lumber companies in Wyoming and Montana.

According to an article in the New York Times, a Montana home builder is promoting construction using Made in USA materials. It's not that easy.

In fact, the general contractor who came up with the idea, Anders Lewendal, said it's probably not possible to achieve 100% compatibility to the all-American building approach, according to the article. But if all builders sought American-made products, the impact could be beneficial.

The damage done by the mountain pine beetle to the forests in British Columbia has received much attention, given the billions of dollars already lost to this pernicious pest. But Dendroctonus ponderosae knows no borders, and now the western United States is grappling with the same epidemic. The pine beetle has spread to Wyoming, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota and Colorado.